Incredible Edible Art Show returns to Kent State-Geauga to fight hunger in county (with video)

Duncan Scott/DScott@News-Herald.com

Jordan Wright builds a replica of the game Battleship using cans and boxes of food he purchased for the Incredible Edible Art Show at Kent State University's Geauga Campus in Burton Township. The creative food drive benefits United Way Services of Geauga County's Hunger Task Force. Wright, a quality manager for Chardon-based Fairmount Minerals, has participated is the drive the past three years.

Battleships built with silver cans of sardines stand among numerous creative shapes constructed from food items and displayed at the Incredible Edible Art Show at Kent State University's Geauga Campus in Burton Township.

The show, organized by United Way of Geauga County, the Geauga Hunger Task Force and KSU Geauga, is a means of bringing awareness to those needing assistance as well as a way to collect donations for the county's seven food pantries, said Joann Randall, resource and volunteer manager for Geauga United Way.

"This is a good visual event where you can ask the community to get involved," Randall said.

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Businesses, community groups and individuals were invited to participate by creating displays comprised of food items and paper products and based on a theme of board games.

Entries are on exhibit in the atrium of KSU-Geauga through noon Thursday. At that time Geauga County Commissioners Tracey Jemison and Mary Samide and food pantry captain Heleyne Walker will judge the artwork and choose a winner.

Although Jordan Wright's food-based rendition of a castle was recognized as best in the show two years ago, receiving first-place honors is not his primary objective.

Wright, who works as a quality manager for Chardon-based Fairmount Minerals, said participating is important to him because of the opportunity to help feed the less fortunate.

While lining up cans of Vienna sausage to assemble a likeness of the Battleship game, Wright said he began by wandering through grocery stores for inspiration before beginning the task.

When the colors of red, white and blue began to stand out, he did some research and landed on Battleship. From there, he purchased $300 to $400 worth of the sausage, soup broth and other similarly colored cans of food.

"There's not a better way to help the people in this county," said Wright, who was being assisted by his brother, Travis Wright.

Meanwhile, Paula Wagner and Sue Giles, staff members at Burton Public Library, were sitting back and assessing their completed version of the chess game they constructed using boxed macaroni and cheese and canned tuna fish, peaches and tomatoes.

They decided on chess as their entry because of the many tournaments held at the library each February.

Early planning was a key to their neat design.

They drew a diagram which indicated what type and how many food items would be needed, and collected donations from fellow staff members to make their purchases.

Although well-organized, Marsha said one particular item presented a challenge.

"The peaches for the king piece were not stacking up well," she said. "So, we used some packing tape and cut out some circles from cardboard. We came prepared."

Other entries include Jenga made from dozens of boxes of tissue and submitted by KSU-Geauga students and Carol Gardner, who works at the school.

Student Caraline Nelson built a butterfly from the game of Operation, using donations collected from several organizations to which she belongs.

"People were saying it was going to be impossible, but I said 'I'll make it possible' ... and I did."

Ed Peterson, board president of the Geauga Hunger Task Force and pastor of First United Methodist Church of Middlefield, said the thousands of food items collected for the show "will go pretty fast." He said pantries are in need of paper products that are not permitted to be purchased with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as protein items including tuna fish and peanut butter.

KSU-Geauga student Marsha Dray concentrated on her nursing studies in the atrium as the hubbub of activity took place around her.

Taking a moment to comment on the endeavor, she said "I think it's a wonderful idea because everyone has basic needs and sometimes they can't be met on their own. What better way than an art show that is pleasing to the eye as well as the palate?"

The KSU-Geauga campus is at 14111 Claridon Troy Road. For details, call Geauga United Way at 440-285-2261.